Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week, from Oct. 19-27 this year, was launched in 1985 when Federal Agent Enrique Camarena was murdered by drug traffickers. The purpose of the national event is to encourage students to stay off drugs and alcohol. Events are planned at schools countywide, including essay and poster contests, skits, door and room decorating. Red ribbons, carnations and buttons will be distributed among students who will be urged to wear red clothes on designated days.

Counselors were at a Chino elementary school Thursday where three students were injured after a student discharged a rifle mounted on a police motorcycle on display, district officials said. Around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, a child at Newman Elementary School approached the rifle and pulled the trigger, said Tamrin Olden, a spokeswoman for the Chino Police Department. The AR-15 rifle was locked onto the motorcycle that was on display during a Red Ribbon Week drug abuse prevention event, Olden said.

Thank you for Shawn Hubler's Oct. 24 column, "Red Ribbon Reruns." As a pediatrician, I have worked on Red Ribbon Week for more than 10 years, and while I do believe that the little red ribbon isn't everything that I want it to be, it is a visible commitment by many sectors of our community to deal with the fact that people do use substances to get high because it makes them feel better. Why do kids use drugs? To feel good, feel better, feel nothing. I have followed the trail of substance abuse.

Three students were injured Wednesday after a weapon mounted on a police motorcycle on display accidentally discharged at a Chino elementary school during Red Ribbon Week activities, police said. The students -- whose ages were not immediately known -- suffered minor injuries, said Tamrin Olden, crime prevention supervisor for the Chino Police Department. Two were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, said Chino Valley F ire District spokeswoman Massiel Ladron De Guevara.

Hundreds of children and teens crowded the Simi Valley High School stadium Wednesday evening to enthusiastically say "No!" to substance abuse. The rally, attended by students from throughout Simi Valley, was one of numerous activities in Ventura County to celebrate Red Ribbon Week, which began locally on Monday and continues through Halloween.

For Myrna Camarena, Red Ribbon Week isn't just seven days of donning ribbons or wearing pins with anti-drug messages. The 43-year-old San Diego secretary is connected to the growing anti-drug observance in the most personal way. After all, it was the violent death of her big brother Enrique "Kiki" Camarena by drug traffickers that sparked the creation of this national event.

Essay contests, community fairs and school assemblies are among the nationwide Red Ribbon Week events planned countywide. The annual events, most continuing through next Saturday, are designed to entertain children while informing them about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol. "It is extremely important, especially in light of the recent tragic deaths of young people in our society due to substance abuse, that we demonstrate our united commitment to a drug-free society," said James A.

Three students were injured Wednesday morning after the "accidental discharge" of a police weapon during a safety presentation at a Chino elementary school, police said. The students -- whose ages were not immediately known -- suffered what were believed to be minor injuries and were taken to an area hospital as a precaution, said Tamrin Olden, crime prevention supervisor for the Chino Police Department. Additional information about their injuries were not immediately known. "We're still sorting out the extent of the injuries and how it happened," Olden said.

Several Red Ribbon Week activities are planned for Ventura County students as the anti-drug observance draws to a close today. Students at Rose Avenue School in Oxnard will dress in red clothing and will place red ribbons along the fence surrounding the Driskill Street campus as part of the school's biggest event of Red Ribbon Week, said administrative intern Jairo Arellano.

Today marks the start of Red Ribbon Week activities at schools throughout the Fullerton School District. Students will be encouraged to take part in a variety of events designed to promote a drug-free lifestyle. At many campuses, children will wear red and tie red ribbons on trees and fences to symbolize their commitment to living drug-free. Students at Sunset Lane Elementary decorated classrooms Friday and submitted posters and essays for an upcoming school contest.

Two local Olympians visited Linda Vista Elementary School Friday to kick off the start of Red Ribbon Week. Rex Cawley, a 1964 gold medalist in the 400-meter hurdles, and Charles Bittick, a Pan American Games silver medalist and member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic water polo team, met with students to discuss the importance of "diligence."

Erik Mulick may be years away from high school, but he is already preparing for the peer pressures. The Acacia Elementary School sixth-grader's oldest brother, Marcus, is a sophomore at Thousand Oaks High School. So when Marcus tells him he knows of students who offer alcohol or drugs to others, Erik listens. "He said he's been asked a couple of times but he said he remembered everything he learned here at Acacia Elementary, so he's said no to every offer he's gotten," said Erik, 11.

Calvary Tabernacle will host "Youthstock 2000" on Oct. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. The event--put on to complement Red Ribbon week--will focus on keeping youths away from drugs and gangs. A Christian rock concert will showcase teen band Level 7. A graffiti wall will also be put up. There will be free food and drink. The event will take place at 6102 Stanton Ave. Information: (714) 522-8282.

The City Council has approved activities for the 11th annual Red Ribbon Week. The activities are designed to show teenagers the dangers associated with alcohol and drug abuse. The event will be Oct. 22-28. The city has allocated $5,000 for this year's event.

The school district's Board of Trustees presented this month's "Above and Beyond" award to George Hallak during Tuesday's board meeting for his volunteer work at Dickerson Elementary School. Hallak was recognized for his efforts during the children's anti-drug program Red Ribbon Week and his work with the local PTA.